Let's talk royals

The Royal Spare: How Will and Kate May Honor Diana

Ever since the Duchess of Cambridge‘s first pregnancy, I was asked the same question: If the child were to be a girl, would her name be Diana?

My answer was the same every time, and still is to this day: No. However, I could very well see the Duke and Duchess having it as part of their daughter’s middle name (the Windsors have been known to give lengthy middle names to their children).

The first time around, my guesses for a girls name were Victoria, Charlotte or Alexandra. I still believe those are front-runners, but royal biographer Andrew Morton‘s interview over the weekend had me thinking that Elizabeth is a firm possibility. Morton, famous for penning 1992’s Diana: Her True Story, told The Sun he believes that if the new baby is a girl, her name could very well be “Elizabeth Diana.”

“Close friends to William and Kate have told me that if it is a girl they want to name the baby after Diana,” Morton told The Sun on Sunday (via the Daily Mail). “They discussed girls’ names before George was born and now they’re hoping the next one is a girl so they can carry out their wish to honour William’s mother. They’re not too thrilled at the thought it will be shortened to Princess Di. But it won’t change their minds.”

I can’t see Their Royal Highnesses going with Diana as a first name, as it will only invite criticism and – as mentioned above – a shortening of their daughter’s name to “Princess Di.” I do, however, think that Diana’s name will most definitely be included in the child’s middle name.

Following Morton’s interview, Elizabeth became a name favorite with 10/1 odds, followed by James for a boy at 11/1, and Victoria in third with 12/1 odds.